Future Z 180-600 Shipping Dates - and a question

[AlainCh2]

Today I tried to buy one sold by Amazon with Amazon shipping.

The price is 2,045€ or around 2,200€ if insured for 24 months. ( 75€ x year )

If I confirm my order, I can expect to have one in my hands next month.
I was quite surprised:
My date target range was Crhistmass - February, before my birthday

MPB offered a little less than 600€, for my Sigma 150-600 bought in June, just before the announcement.
And that's a little over 1,400€ of fresh cash.

But to confirm I'm waiting to get another offer from RCE

The weight is the same as Sigma+FTZ or a little less.
Sharpness is better, and maybe a better AF as well.

Is it worth the 1400€ effort for a retired old amateur ?



PS:
I've got a call from RCE, they have around 70 people on their waiting list for the 180-600.
They don't expect to be able to fulfill it at year's end

( RCE is one of the biggest photo chains 12+1 shops in Italy, and 3 in the EU )

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Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.
https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151

 

[French Fry]

Are you r€tired or r€€€tired ?

In other words, I think the answer to your question is very closely tied with how much you will miss those 1400 euros. And secondarily, what are your concerns with your current setup?

If not too much of a budget concern, then yes having a native Z lens should offer plenty of benefits (better AF and tracking, lighter, no adapter, etc. to name a few). I switched to all native Z glass and would not personally go back to adapted lenses. The one time hassle of upgrading, to me, was so much less than the ongoing hassle of adapting lenses.

But if buying the gear means belt tightening so you can't travel to see the animals you plan to photograph or buy other important items, it may not be worth it, at least not right away.

It comes down to personal choice, so no one can tell you what makes sense for you and your budget. I would personally upgrade eventually, but not necessarily right away if I had other priorities.

One other thing to consider would be prices of the 180-600 will come down, but the trade in value of your Sigma will also go down, so timing that exchange perfectly may be a challenge if you don't want to part with the Sigma until you have the Nikon in hand.

 

[AlainCh2]

Are you r€tired or r€€€tired ?

In other words, I think the answer to your question is very closely tied with how much you will miss those 1400 euros. And secondarily, what are your concerns with your current setup?

If not too much of a budget concern, then yes having a native Z lens should offer plenty of benefits (better AF and tracking, lighter, no adapter, etc. to name a few). I switched to all native Z glass and would not personally go back to adapted lenses. The one time hassle of upgrading, to me, was so much less than the ongoing hassle of adapting lenses.

But if buying the gear means belt tightening so you can't travel to see the animals you plan to photograph or buy other important items, it may not be worth it, at least not right away.

It comes down to personal choice, so no one can tell you what makes sense for you and your budget. I would personally upgrade eventually, but not necessarily right away if I had other priorities.

One other thing to consider would be prices of the 180-600 will come down, but the trade in value of your Sigma will also go down, so timing that exchange perfectly may be a challenge if you don't want to part with the Sigma until you have the Nikon in hand.

Thanks for answering. Sorry if I'm late to respond. Real life intruded.

Hahahaha!!!
>> only r$$tired !!!

Health is the only real issue.
I don't travel much out of my bed, and my hands are just so so, breathing difficult as well.

Money, may or may not be an issue, but thanks for your deep reasoning.
That helped a lot to confirm what I was thinking alone by myself.

Belt-tightening it is not.
I can use some savings that I will never have a use for

and ....
...that leaves only personal choice:

• and I will get a great satisfaction from having a better HDW in my hands,
• and may have better results in my scarce shooting opportunities.

Sure I dream of a lot of great shooting forays,
but overall it's a better handling even if my outings will be really few,
and I get better macro as a bonus.

Would all of that be worth 1500€ ... that's only a wrong question !!!

( my own happiness is a priority before anything else )

.

PS:
I ordered the 180-600 a few minutes ago after reading your post,
I'm getting the quote now for my Sigma, to be sent end of November,

( when for sure, I will not go out anymore )



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Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.
https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151

 

[French Fry]

I am glad to hear that you were able to make a decision!
I hope you really enjoy your new lens!!!

 

[AlainCh2]

I've got an update.

If it becomes true .... it's astounding !







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Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.

Carnivorous High Heat >> Scroll down for Pics <<

10 Albums | 51 Fotos | AlainCH2.zonerama.com

eu.zonerama.com

 

[AlainCh2]

I've got an update.

If it becomes true .... it's astounding !

May be it's TRUE:

This evening my card was charged,
but no shipping mail and verification code so far!

What a joy to receive <unexpectedly> the new lens before a trip:

Only with good weather> On the 20th or 21st I'd planned a trip to the Black Forest near Freiburg, DE,
then a leg to Nancy, FR, to participate at the European carnivore Exchange Expo.

( If the weather keeps up expect a lot of uninteresting photos )

EEE2023
https://www.jardinbotaniquedenancy....ean-marie-pelt/agenda/details/news/carnivores

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___.......................................................... ___
Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.
https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151

 

[astirusty]

Today I tried to buy one sold by Amazon with Amazon shipping.

PS:
I've got a call from RCE, they have around 70 people on their waiting list for the 180-600.
They don't expect to be able to fulfill it at year's end

( RCE is one of the biggest photo chains 12+1 shops in Italy, and 3 in the EU )

Two weeks after Nikon's official "availability" date, and dealer has gotten nothing since before 1st day, at which time dealer got 1 (one). There is some confusion as to whether the dealer possibly got total of two. One earlier on, which may have gone to reviewer / NPS member.

Going by best case of SNs seen thus far, it is hard to believe Nikon shipped and distributed 5,500 Z 180-600mm lens. Perhaps 1,200 lens. There should have been several Z 180-600mm lenses show up by today, after none week before.

Dealer did add Nikon is being tight lipped, and will not give them any idea on when dealer orders will start being filled. I could tell dealer was frustrated, yet doing best to be up-beat. I would pass on dealer's joke about situation, but it would get post deleted do to humorless fans.

 

[AlainCh2]

I've got an update.

If it becomes true .... it's astounding !

May be it's TRUE:

This evening my card was charged,
but no shipping mail and verification code so far!

What a joy to receive <unexpectedly> the new lens before a trip:

Only with good weather> On the 20th or 21st I'd planned a trip to the Black Forest near Freiburg, DE,
then a leg to Nancy, FR, to participate at the European carnivore Exchange Expo.

( If the weather keeps up expect a lot of uninteresting photos )

EEE2023
https://www.jardinbotaniquedenancy....ean-marie-pelt/agenda/details/news/carnivores

Absurd situation!! I'M FUMMMMMMING !!!!!!!!!!!!

The trip has been canceled, due to my friend having sudden unexpected commitments. <ok>

Amazon this morning sent me two emails.
I was expecting the first to be the confirmation of delivery,
and the next one the security code for delivery acceptance.

INSTEAD:
"you have some payments unfulfilled for order XZY so we blocked your account and suspended all your orders",
the next one is the same "for order ZXY".
Both are related to the 180-600Z order. It contained the lens, the insurance, and an SD V90 card.

A short check on my PC> my orders for the 180-600Z disappeared

I Phoned Them and explained the situation:
the money has been paid, it results on my card. What happened to the lens??

> "We open an investigation - As per now, we can't see your account contents. It has been locked for some (unknown) reasons"

"Let us check. - We get back to you in 24 hours, sorry for what happened"

.

No money, No lenses, No peaceful morning!!!

OK for a mistake, that happens.....

(But I don't have the money to re-order, it's already in their hands!)

PS: This night's screenshot



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___.......................................................... ___
Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.
https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151

 

[French Fry]

So frustrating on all fronts!

Very sorry to hear about the canceled trip and ordering issues. I hope you are able to get the order fulfilled or a refund very quickly. Sometimes orders get canceled if your credit card company flags the transaction as potential fraud. What is odd in this case is that they collected the funds already. Were you able to speak with your bank?

 

[AlainCh2]

So frustrating on all fronts!

Very sorry to hear about the canceled trip and ordering issues. I hope you are able to get the order fulfilled or a refund very quickly. Sometimes orders get canceled if your credit card company flags the transaction as potential fraud. What is odd in this case is that they collected the funds already. Were you able to speak with your bank?

No need, the bank has nothing to do with the issue:
I spoke with 12 people in different Amazon departments.
Finally, they gave me a number to directly access a Payments Dep. Rep.



"Send me a proof we have collected the money.
We will try to solve this and reinstate your orders.

For now, we cannot see your account 'cause it's locked "

 

[vbuhay]

Latest notice from B&H:

We will continue to try and secure stock to fulfill your order, however at this time we do not have an exact date on when we can fulfill it.



Very Disappointing!!!!

 

[ajr images]

I wasn't sure about the quality of this lens but have now seen enough information to convince me that it's close to S lens standard, so placed an order at B&H on 9/11. Just heard from NPS that they are shipping it to B&H. Doubt if it will arrive in time for the Pacific Airshow, but looking forward to checking it against my other S lenses.

 

[LensWizard]

I wasn't sure about the quality of this lens but have now seen enough information to convince me that it's close to S lens standard, so placed an order at B&H on 9/11. Just heard from NPS that they are shipping it to B&H. Doubt if it will arrive in time for the Pacific Airshow, but looking forward to checking it against my other S lenses.

I see on your wishlist of camera gear you want a 400Z T/C is that still the case..?

 

[AlainCh2]

So frustrating on all fronts!

Very sorry to hear about the canceled trip and ordering issues. I hope you are able to get the order fulfilled or a refund very quickly. Sometimes orders get canceled if your credit card company flags the transaction as potential fraud. What is odd in this case is that they collected the funds already. Were you able to speak with your bank?

No need, the bank has nothing to do with the issue:
I spoke with 12 people in different Amazon departments.
Finally, they gave me a number to directly access a Payments Dep. Rep.

"Send me a proof we have collected the money.
We will try to solve this and reinstate your orders.
For now, we cannot see your account 'cause it's locked "

A little update to this long SAGA

PART ONE

In the afternoon I started to receive Amazon mail telling me they reinstated my accounts ( UK, Fr) but nothing from Italy.
So I called Italy and hit the usual CallCenter wall:

They know everything is written on their PCs and insist you are wrong,
rebuking anything you tell them.
Spoke with 9 persons.
After 3-5 minutes I dropped each call when recognizing a wood head.

Finally, I hit a guy with a very smart voice.
I convinced him to read Amazon >communication C<

That was mainly not corresponding to his affirmation,
and what he was reading me from his PC information.
Then I made him read >comunication B.< .... ?? What do you think now ??

Mumble mumble mumble ( usual noise from a brain under heavy charge)

Please read Communication A at 02:31:28
>>>"Well, something is really wrong"<<<<



He left me to wait on the phone two or three times while he contacted several departments.
After nearly one hour he told me to contact the bank,
to give them a code he was providing to me.
"I call you back in ONE hour so you can tell me what you obtained from the Bank"

PART TWO

When he called me back I told him that the BankCallCenter had no clue about the code or where the money was at the moment.

"Now I know there is something really wrong.
You hit a bug somewhere and the system got correctly your money charging the card,
BUT for the Lens Insurance amount,

the system charged your bank account instead of your card and that payment was refused.

That missing payment is the main root problem that locked your account and cancelled your order, as well as started all this avalanche of issues"

"Now at least we know how to move out of these bad waters, hear me ... "

"...The good news is:
I've spoken with the debit department and they have already issued a reimbursement notice to your card."

"The BAD NEW is :
Your LENS order got canceled and we cannot recover it anymore
because the lens has been already re-assigned to another customer"

"You should receive your money back in a short time, and be able to reorder the lens!"
"In any case, I call you back the day after tomorrow, and we will check together whatever may still be stuck. I hope to see you re-order soon"
"I must confess that when you started to show me around I was lost in an agitated sea with no clue where to go. It took some time to get my bearings"

Wow, first-class agent I've got here !!!

PART THREE

I was quite satisfied, less that I could not reorder.
But I reasoned that I could ask a friend for a temporary loan, and so I did ...

...and in 30 minutes I was able to reorder the 180-600Z...

SADLY >> My 180-600Z is making somebody else happy as of today !!!!

Later while I was eating supper, my phone rang <Amazon Number>

"Hello, I've seen the lens order, have you already received your money??"

! ! HE PHONED ME AGAIN ! !

I explained.
He guaranteed me he will send another pressing mail before his shift end this evening:
"See you soon in three days"

He is an operator from Egypt.

( that guy is an Egyptian Pearl )

--
___.......................................................... ___
Mid of French/Italian Alps - Hardiness Zone 8A
I Love all Carnivores, I have mostly Red Dioneas.
https://eu.zonerama.com/AlainCH2/1191151

 

[ajr images]

I already have the Z 400mm f4.5 and Z100-400mm plus 300mm f2.8 VR and 500mm f4 VR "F" lenses that I can use on my D6 or on the Z9's with the FTZ2. I still have an interest in the Z400mm f2.8, although I'm certainly in no rush.

 

[ghostfox_1]

I wasn't sure about the quality of this lens but have now seen enough information to convince me that it's close to S lens standard, so placed an order at B&H on 9/11. Just heard from NPS that they are shipping it to B&H. Doubt if it will arrive in time for the Pacific Airshow, but looking forward to checking it against my other S lenses.

The mystery of why some of us who preordered don't have lenses is solved, nikon kept a bunch back for extremely late orders by NPS

 

[LensWizard]

I already have the Z 400mm f4.5 and Z100-400mm plus 300mm f2.8 VR and 500mm f4 VR "F" lenses that I can use on my D6 or on the Z9's with the FTZ2. I still have an interest in the Z400mm f2.8, although I'm certainly in no rush.

reason I ask is I had a phone call today of one in stock and I already have one and do not need 2 of them.. I will be passing on this 180-600 as useless to me..

 

[astirusty]

I wasn't sure about the quality of this lens but have now seen enough information to convince me that it's close to S lens standard, so placed an order at B&H on 9/11. Just heard from NPS that they are shipping it to B&H. Doubt if it will arrive in time for the Pacific Airshow, but looking forward to checking it against my other S lenses.

The mystery of why some of us who preordered don't have lenses is solved, nikon kept a bunch back for extremely late orders by NPS

Assuming that is the reason...

Ironic isn't it? Being Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lenses were not targeted for Pros, and Pros only want "S" lens and Primes.

 

[shuncheung]

I wasn't sure about the quality of this lens but have now seen enough information to convince me that it's close to S lens standard, so placed an order at B&H on 9/11. Just heard from NPS that they are shipping it to B&H. Doubt if it will arrive in time for the Pacific Airshow, but looking forward to checking it against my other S lenses.

You placed an NPS order on September 11 and they are already shipping it to B&H on September 19, just over a week. I take that as a very good sign. Essentially all NPS orders will be filled soon and most newly produced/arrived lenses will be available to non-NPS photographers. The overall wait should not be too bad.

I understand that the Pacific Airshow is still 10 days away? There is still a decent chance that your lens will arrive before that. B&H will be close the coming Sunday and Monday for Yom Kippur, but that probably will not affect your particular order.

 

[ajr images]

I agree it's a good sign that production of this lens is in full swing. NPS say it could take 10 days to ship to B&H, which could mean that the next batch is on its way and the lens will come from that batch rather than lenses being held in stock just in case they get a NPS order.

It's no big deal if the lens doesn't get here for the Pacific Airshow, I have other lens options that will work fine and will use 2 bodies with different focal lengths. Also, the air pollution and heat haze can get bad at Huntington Beach so 600mm might not work so well.